If you’re actively preparing to list your home for sale, resist the temptation to make major home improvements. Focus on minor projects instead for a better return on your time and money. It’s the smaller projects that tend to have a bigger, long-term payoff.
So, how do you determine which projects are the “smaller ones”? It’s obvious when you think like a buyer.
Consider: Home buyers don’t always notice when your home is in working order. In fact, they expect it to be that way. What they do notice, however, is when things are “broken”. When a buyer sees torn screens in your windows or burnt-out light bulbs, they begin to wonder what else in the home has not been cared for.
This is one reason why — especially during warmer months — it’s sensible to hire an exterminator before selling your home. If a prospective buyer uncovers bugs in your bathroom, it can leave a lasting, negative impression, one that won’t likely lead to a purchase.
So, with “small repairs” in mind, here are 5 simple projects you can tackle in a weekend, that will help your home show better. Each is low-cost and high-impact:
- Repair or remove torn screen doors
- Fix all leaky faucets and toilets
- Touch up holes and cracks in paint, interior and exterior
- Apply a lubricant to squeaky doors and cabinets
- Get “clutter” into storage and physically out of the way
In addition, you’ll want to pull weeds from your yard, seed any bare spots you find, and lay down fresh mulch, where appropriate.
You won’t need to spend big bucks to get your home ready for sale, but the time spent on repairs will ultimately have a pay-off. Homes that show better often sell much faster and at higher prices.